Hand-washing is the single most effective way to reduce the spread of illness.

Coronavirus disease 2019, also known as COVID-19, continues to dominate public discourse, and as local governments begin to shut down schools and non-essential facilities across the country, proper hygiene is more important than ever.

Even before the COVID-19 outbreak began, the flu and cold season wreaked havoc on the workforce every year. Because employee absenteeism is sick or otherwise known as showing up, which means employees appear sick to work and do their job. Halfway work.

The CDC also reports that 17 million days of work are lost each year in the United States due to influenza alone.

Below, tips on how facility managers can help encourage hand-washing and other hygienic practices.

1. Hang up clear signage.

Simple reminders of when building occupants should wash their hands can be effective. Put up clear signage in restrooms, break-rooms and other high-traffic areas to remind people to wash their hands after coughing or sneezing, before and after they prepare food, and after using the restroom.

Signage can even include tips on how to wash your hands properly:

  • Lukewarm water and soap for 20-30 seconds
  • Scrub on all sides, under fingernails and between fingers
  • Shake your hands in the sink before drying with a paper towel

The shaking helps eliminate needing to use multiple paper towels.

2. Put out hand sanitizer.

In places where soap and water aren’t typically available, put out hand sanitizer dispensers in clearly visible locations—near entrances of buildings and rooms to ensure occupants and visitors will be more likely to sanitize their hands. A study from the Journal of the America Osteopathic Association shows that optimizing dispenser placement increases usage by more than 50%.

3. Evaluate the position of your bathroom dispenser.

It is a safety hazard when you wash your hands in the bathrooms and then have to walk across the bathroom to get a paper towel, meanwhile, dripping water on the floor.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a simple act of hand washing can prevent 20 percent of respiratory infections such as colds and flu. It is also the most effective way to limit the spread of disease.

Make sure the tissue dispensers are the perfect distance from the sinks while near the exit. This way, people can turn off the faucet, hold the doorknob as they go out with a paper towel, and then dispose of it in a nearby trash can.

When an architect is in there or a contractor is putting up dispensers, they don’t often have that information. It’s about educating the distributor and facilities team on the most hygienic options for them.

Why It’s So Important
Handwashing can be a critical part of business, unbeknownst to employers.
It affects employee satisfaction People are happier at work when they feel they have the right facilities to keep them healthy.”

 

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